Swimming appliance.



H. BRUENING.

" 'SWlMMING APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.27,1915.

1,142,872. Patented June 15, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS CO PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON. D. C. I

or As HENRY BRUENING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SWIMMING APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1915.

Application filed March 27, 1915. Serial No. 17,413. 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY BRUENING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Swimming Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

The device which is the subject-matter of the present application for patent is designed for attachment to a swimmers foot to facilitate progress through the water and to obtain greater speed.

The invention has for its object to provide a simple and efficient device of the kind stated, and also one which can be easily applied to or removed from the foot, and which will not hamper the proper movement of the foot.

In order that the invention may be better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device in position on the foot and ready for use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device showing the wings or fins thereof spread, one of said wings or fins being shown removed; Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the device, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4l-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the device comprises two pivotally connected wings or fins 5 which are so mounted on the swimmers foot that they spread when the swimmer kicks back, thereby aiding the propulsive effort and enabling the swimmer to obtain greater speed by reason of the large resistance surface presented to the water. The wings will be made of aluminum or some other suitable stifl and light material. Ordinary hinges 6 provide pivotal connection between the wings. The rear ends of the wings are shaped to clear the ankle. A foot gear is provided for securing the wings 5 to the foot. This gear consists of the following parts: An ankle-encircling strap 7 has in front an eye 8 and a branch strap 9 passing around the instep and beneath the arch of the foot. A plate 10 is placed transversely beneath the foot at the arch, and close to the heel. This plate has slots 11 at its ends through which the strap 9 passes. The ends of the plate have upward bends 12 which are perforated, as indicatedat 13, for a purpose to be presently described. Beneath the front portion or ball of the foot is placed a substantially triangular plate 1A having adjacent to its rear edge a slot 15. The front edge of the clate 10 has a slot 16. A strap 17 passes through the slots 15 and 16 and provides a connection between the two plates. The front portion of the plate is carries a rigid upstanding stem 18 which extends between the great toe and the adjacent toe of the foot and projects a short distance thereabove. Back of this stem, the plate 14: carries a yoke 19 straddling the foot transversely and rising a short distance above the same. The stem and the yoke carry rings 20 at their upper ends. The plate 14: has bent-up side portions 21 at its rear end, which are apertured, as indicated at 22, and adjacent thereto, the plate has slots 23 to receive a strap 24 encircling the front portion of the foot, said tions of the wings are connected to the ring 20 of the stem 18, and the intermediate portions of the wings are connected to the ring 20 of the yoke 19. The connection between the wings and the attaching means is made at the joint between the wings so as not to interfere with the swing thereof.

By the means hereinbefore described. the wings 5 are secured to the foot above the top thereof to project sidewise in opposite directions, and with the axis of the hinge or pivotal connection extending in the direction of the length of the foot. The wings are supported in three places, and the parts are so arranged that the foot is left perfectly free and unhindered. The several straps which secure the attaching means to the foot are made adjustable by ordinary buckles or similar devices.

In order to limit the outward swing or spread of the wings 5, lines 26 are carried over front and rear pulleys 27 mounted on the under side of the wings adjacent to the outer longitudinal edges thereof. These strings are made fast at their ends in the perforations 13 and 22, one string being thus connected to the plates 10 and 14 on one side of the foot and the other string to said plates on the other side of the foot. The

length of the strings determines the extent I to which the wings may spread. the length being such as to prevent excessive spread.

I claim:

1. A swimming appliance comprising an ankle strap having attaching means in front of the ankle, a plate fastened beneath the foot, a stem and a yoke carried by the plate, the stem projecting between the toes and the yoke straddling the foot to the rear of the toes, said stem and yoke having attaching means at the top above the foot, and pivoted Wings connected to the aforesaid attaching means.

2. A swlmming appllance comprising an ankle straphaving attaching means in front of the ankle, a plate fastened beneath the foot, a stem and a yoke carried by the plate, the stem projecting between the toes and the yoke straddling the foot to the rear of the HENRY BRUENING.

Witnesses: S. J. LEI-IRER,

H. Gr. BATCHELOR.

(lopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

